Implementation of robots in military industry
During the entire war history technology has changed the warfare. Metalurgy, horses, gunpowder, airplanes, atomic weapons or computers has essentially influenced how people fight. Robots and AI are basically just another kind of technology that will change this industry. Nowadays, we have 2 basic categories of military robots:
1. Service robots
Service robots in the military industry play a crucial role in enhancing the capabilities of armed forces across the world. These robots perform a wide range of tasks to support and protect soldiers, as well as to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of military operations.
- Autonomous vehicles: People use them for logistics support, including transportation of supplies and equipment in combat zones. Self-driving technology enables these vehicles to navigate autonomously, reducing the risk to human drivers.
- Search and rescue robots: These robots are used in disaster relief and military search and rescue missions to locate and assist survivors in hazardous environments. They have sensors, cameras, and sometimes manipulator arms to perform tasks like debris removal and casualty extraction.
- Robotic exoskeletons: These are wearable devices that can enhance the physical capabilities of soldiers. They provide support for lifting heavy loads and reduce fatigue during long missions. Some exoskeletons are designed for medical purposes, assisting injured soldiers in rehabilitation.
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD): EOD robots specialize for the safe detection, identification, and disposal of explosive devices, including improvised explosive devices. They protect EOD personnel by allowing remote handling of dangerous explosives.
2. Defense robots
Defense robots, also known as military robots or combat robots, are autonomous or semi-autonomous machines designed and employed by military organizations to perform various tasks related to defense, security, and warfare. Soldiers use these robots to enhance the capabilities of armed forces while minimizing the risk to humans in dangerous or high-risk situations.
- Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs): These are wheeled or tracked robots that can operate on various terrains, including rough or hazardous environments. UGVs uses cameras, sensors, and robotic arms for various applications. For instance, UGVs search for dangerous bombs or for tasks such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD).
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): Commonly known as drones, they carry payloads like missiles, making them valuable for both reconnaissance and offensive operations. UAVs are capable of providing real-time situational awareness to military personnel. UAVs work with sensors, GPS receivers, and onboard computers to control flight, stabilize the aircraft, and execute predefined flight paths. They also rely on wireless communication systems, including radio signals and data links, to transmit information to operators or ground control stations.
- Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs): UUVs work for underwater operations, including searching for mines, the cause of most naval combat losses over the last two decades and for oceanographic research. They have sonar systems, cameras, and manipulator arms for various tasks in use. However, maintaining communication with UUVs in deep-sea environments is challenging due to limited signal range, although precise navigation is very critical.
- Firefighting robots: These robots address fire emergencies and prevent human casualties. They possess the capability to identify fires, apply diverse firefighting methods and endure high temperatures for extended time. Equipped with a suite of cameras, a gas sensor, and a stereo infrared camera, these firefighting robots can detect fires, even in smoky environments, and bring the flames under control.
Key roles of robots in the military industry
Human soldier that has often less than a second to decide could make a fatal mistake due to tiredness or fear. However, robots don’t need more than a fraction of a second. Also, robots could possibly reduce the amount of casualties among civilians if they would adhere to the rules. Actually, there are 3 key reasons why militaries around the world use them.
- Effectiveness
- The race between world militaries. All of them are scared that their potential enemy already has such technologies.
- Reducing losses of lives.
These roles demonstrate the value of robots in the military industry, where they contribute to improve situational awareness, reduce risk to human personnel, and enhance mission success rates across various military operations. However, their deployment also raises ethical, legal, and technological considerations that need to be carefully addressed.
Risks of using military robots
A lot of experts in AI industry, that don’t work for armed forces, are convicted that people shouldn’t use fully autonomous robots in military. And should we allow robots to decide who to kill? In 2014, there was a UN summit about “lethal autonomous weapon systems”. South Korean company has an automatic tower that informs every potential target in the range of 3km and says “Leave this guarded area immediately or I will start shooting”. However, the final decision must be authorized by a human supervisor.
It’s not a surprise that lots of countries in the world are currently developing weapon systems. For example, there already are robots in the development that can detect and kill a person from 6km distance using the combination of radar, thermo and video cameras. The use of autonomous robots in warfare generally raises ethical questions, particularly regarding the accountability for their actions. Decisions made by autonomous systems may not align with human values and moral principles.
Possible consequences
Autonomous military robots may make decisions based on algorithms and data, which can sometimes lead to unintended and unpredictable outcomes, especially in complex and dynamic battlefield scenarios. As robots become more autonomous, there is a risk of losing control over their actions. Over-reliance on robots for critical decisions can lead to a degradation of human decision-making skills, particularly in high-stress combat situations. This can lead to situations where humans cannot intervene effectively to prevent unintended harm. And that kind of race could eradicate our entire species.
In addition, military robots are sensitive to hacking and cyberattacks, like any modern technological system. If hackers gain control over these systems, they can use them against their operators or for unauthorized purposes. Determining responsibility for actions taken by autonomous robots can be really complex, making it challenging to hold individuals or organizations accountable for any misuse or errors.
We are faced not only with the promise of enhanced capabilities but also with the shadows of uncertainty and vulnerability. Striking a balance between harnessing the benefits of automation and managing the risks it presents is an immense challenge that society must confront to ensure a safer and more secure future.